A Guardian investigation has put a human face on the UK’s asylum backlog by following “Ussu”, a torture survivor who has waited **17 years** for a decision on his protection claim. His story—marked by periods of homelessness, serious injury and decades of work bans—illustrates the systemic delays that continue even after this summer’s White Paper promised faster case-work.
For companies sponsoring talent under the Skilled-Worker or Global-Talent routes, the case is important because it underscores how wider immigration resourcing issues spill into business streams. UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) frequently diverts staff from economic routes to clear asylum spikes; last year this doubled waiting times for some health-and-care visa extensions.
Law firms say that while asylum processing is ring-fenced in theory, in practice shared biometric-enrolment centres and back-office caseworkers create bottlenecks across the system. If the government proceeds with its pledge to decide all asylum claims lodged before June 2025 by next April, business users could again feel knock-on effects.
![Seventeen-year asylum limbo highlights Home Office backlog risk for employers]()
The article has also reignited calls from major employers—including the CBI and techUK—for a policy allowing asylum applicants to work after six months, mirroring Ireland and Canada. Business argues that employment reduces destitution costs and taps skills shortages; critics say it would act as a pull-factor. Ministers maintain the issue is “under review”.
Global-mobility managers should watch three metrics: (1) average processing times for skilled-worker applications (currently 8 weeks standard); (2) prioritised service capacity, which drops when caseworkers are re-tasked; and (3) any Home-Office pilot giving limited work rights to long-waiting asylum seekers, which could reshape contingent-labour markets in hospitality and logistics.
Practical steps include building longer lead-times into assignment planning and advising assignees on the political context that may colour public debate about migrants—even those on work visas. HR teams may also wish to engage corporate-responsibility units to support local refugee-employment charities, reinforcing a positive narrative around migration.
For companies sponsoring talent under the Skilled-Worker or Global-Talent routes, the case is important because it underscores how wider immigration resourcing issues spill into business streams. UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) frequently diverts staff from economic routes to clear asylum spikes; last year this doubled waiting times for some health-and-care visa extensions.
Law firms say that while asylum processing is ring-fenced in theory, in practice shared biometric-enrolment centres and back-office caseworkers create bottlenecks across the system. If the government proceeds with its pledge to decide all asylum claims lodged before June 2025 by next April, business users could again feel knock-on effects.
The article has also reignited calls from major employers—including the CBI and techUK—for a policy allowing asylum applicants to work after six months, mirroring Ireland and Canada. Business argues that employment reduces destitution costs and taps skills shortages; critics say it would act as a pull-factor. Ministers maintain the issue is “under review”.
Global-mobility managers should watch three metrics: (1) average processing times for skilled-worker applications (currently 8 weeks standard); (2) prioritised service capacity, which drops when caseworkers are re-tasked; and (3) any Home-Office pilot giving limited work rights to long-waiting asylum seekers, which could reshape contingent-labour markets in hospitality and logistics.
Practical steps include building longer lead-times into assignment planning and advising assignees on the political context that may colour public debate about migrants—even those on work visas. HR teams may also wish to engage corporate-responsibility units to support local refugee-employment charities, reinforcing a positive narrative around migration.
